Page 42 of Assassin's Heart
The drive into town was silent. Only when I knew we were a few minutes out did I break from my thoughts enough to speak.
“Remi, I need… I want to ask you something. A favor.” Sort of.
“What?”
His tone was clipped, but I didn’t take it personally. He was in warrior mode. Exactly where I needed him to be. “If anything happens—”
“It won’t.”
I squeezed my eyes closed, took a deep breath. When I opened them, it was to the reality of a mostly abandoned industrial park on the edge of town.Almost there.“If it does, I want your promise that Brooke’s welfare comes first. You keep her safe, no matter what. She’s a little girl. If you have to make a choice—her or me—you go to her.”
I looked at him then, needing to see the promise in his expression, not just hear the words. Remi’s mouth was tight, his eyes narrowed—unhappy. He didn’t want to give me that promise.
That moment, between one breath and the next, was when the truth finally settled in my heart. I had sensed all along that this thing between us wasn’t just an obsession, a weird attraction. I’d known love before, with Angelo. I’d felt it, seen it. Remi would never hesitate to put a child’s life above all else unless the person he’d have to abandon meant everything to him.
Unless I meant everything to him.
“Please,” I begged. “Promise me.”
He blew out a breath. “I’ll do whatever I have to do to get you both out safe.”
“Remi—”
“Stop.” His fists tightened on the steering wheel before deliberately relaxing. “It’s the most I can give you, Leah.Both of youwill come out of this alive. I won’t accept anything less.”
I subsided as the warehouse came into view at the end of a deserted road. Remi parked the SUV several yards away. We’d walk from here, allowing Ross’s friend to see that we were alone.
It took one glance to realize Ross and Southerland definitely weren’t.
“Remi?”
His face was grim as he stared at the vehicles parked on either side of the building, the guards patrolling outside. “We planned for this. It’ll be fine.”
I didn’t see how it could be fine, not when two targets had become at least six, and that was only outside. But I had to trust that Remi knew what he was talking about; there was no other choice. “Okay.”
We got out.
The men at the front of the warehouse came to attention, their guns aiming our way as we walked toward them. I scanned the trees nearby, the empty buildings we passed, but caught no sign of Remi’s brothers. Oddly enough, that knowledge sent calm rushing over me. Secure in the Agozi brothers’ expertise, I walked forward with my head held high and no more than the slightest tremor at facing down six gun barrels.
“Gentlemen,” Remi said when we were in earshot, “you’re expecting us.”
One man, as big as Remi and looking just as tough, motioned us forward. “Inside.”
We were stopped at the door and patted down. The big guy took Remi, smirking as he pulled the gun from his ankle holster. The man frisking me took extra pleasure in feeling me up under my vest. I barely held back the need to break his nose with my elbow, reminding myself that these men would get what was coming to them in just a few minutes.
We were finally allowed to proceed.
Inside the warehouse we found a big, empty, gloomy room—or mostly empty. In the center sat Brooke, tied to a chair. Ross stood beside her, his hand on her shoulder, Southerland on the opposite side. And half a dozen armed men behind them.
“Mommy!”
My heart kicked at Brooke’s cry, the way she struggled against the ropes. Ross bent to her ear, saying something that had very little effect on my daughter. Needing her calm, afraid of what Southerland would do if she caused trouble, I hurried forward. “It’s all right, baby. I’m here. It’s okay.”
“That’s close enough,” Southerland said when I was a few yards out. His gun hand came up, the muzzle pointing at Brooke’s head.
I jerked to a stop. “Please. Please don’t do that.” I brought my hands out, showing them empty. “I won’t come any closer.” Brooke’s terrified eyes yanked at me, urging me to help her, but I forced myself to stay still. “It’s okay, baby. I promise.”
God, if something happened and her last moments on this earth were filled with fear—
